[MPLexus301]

I want to preface this post by saying that I hope this is not taken as trolling � I would like to open a legitimate discussion about the PlayBook now that we are exactly 3 months into the ownership experience. It's not my goal to be negative, but at this point, I'm having a hard time being optomistic.

As much as I love my PlayBook, and as much as I've played defense for the thing, I am becoming genuinely fed up with RIM. I can't believe that over three months, we have gotten a few bug fixes, video chat and BBM via Bridge. Consider that in the last 90-something days, a team (not one or two people, but a team) of people have only come up with those few things. That is a shame and, quite frankly, nothing other than downright embarrassing.

First, how hard can it be to create a calendar and put it in an OS update? I mean really? REALLY? Three months...maybe BBM is a bit harder but a simple calendar cannot even be added? I don't particularly care because I have the calendar on my 9700 but it's no wonder when sales start tanking and the stupid thing does not even have a calendar. BOGO POS phones from Metro PCS have calendars and appointment notifications...why can't the PB?

Second, spell check/auto correct are still MIA. I mean, are you serious? I feel like the kid in the dentist video on YouTube - "Is this real life?" A team of "specialists" from (what I assumed to be) one of the best and brightest technology companies in the world cannot fit spell check/auto correct and a calendar into an OS update? Who are these monkeys? Lead them back to their cages and ration their bananas for the next few weeks. Bring someone with real talent into the picture - someone capable of fulfilling the promises that were made to us originally, and that can meet the expectations we have as BB phone users.

It�s the sheer simplicity of these two things that bothers me most. I really don�t see a good reason that they weren�t included in the OS out of the box, so to be three months down the road with no calendar, no spell check, and no auto correct really just shows how negligent, ignorant and out of touch RIM is. To me, it�s really unbelievable. Something that simple, and they have completely failed to respond to the consumer. It's actually amazing, I think.

Third is apps. RIM claims to be open and eager for app development, and then you hear about things like the IM+ debacle which is entirely RIMs fault and shows complete negligence. Dillo Hills hasn't been fixed for the last two updates. Where is Google Talk? Groupon? BlackBerry Protect? Shazam? Android seemed like a quick fix for RIM's app deficiency but at the rate that BB is approving their own developer's apps, I'll be wearing Depends and having hospice clean out my false teeth when they start allowing Android apps into app world. God forbid they ever had to deal with the volume that Apple sees. Most of the apps that I see added on a daily basis are riduculously lame and/or overpriced...this needs to be fixed. We need more apps and we need better apps, and we need them NOW.

Last is the DM software. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt, but the worst part is trying to sync my PB with iTunes. Half the time it clears off all my playlists, doesn't update, or fails. When I try to reload playlists, I get 4 at a time so I have to sync the thing 6 times to get all of my playlists onto the PlayBook. Updating literally takes hours so I start a sync, go to work, come home at the end of the day and then see that I now have the 8 songs that I added to iTunes, but it wiped out all of my playlists. Start over again...the process is dreadful and makes me not want to bother with putting music on my PB. Someone HAS to fix this.



The hardware, form factor, functionality, features and perceived future of this tablet are what made me buy it in April. We are now three months into the �future� and I could not be less pleased with how RIM has supported and handled the PlayBook project�it is sad to watch and as a user, I�m getting sick of owning a half finished product. If there is no Android app functionality or update to spell check and auto correct within the next two months, I'll probably drop the PlayBook, not because I don't think it's a great product, but because it's a great product with lackluster support from a company that has proven that they are completely out of touch with reality.

[kzeusr]

I want to defend the playbook but im speechless now......

[sportline]

what pixxess me off is that the hardware is very good. why can't RIM just port a BBOS 6 into it? we will be better off with it for the first 6 - 12 months until we get a working QNX system in 2012.

[ericlc2]

I want to defend the playbook but im speechless now......

+1, **** maybe even a +2

[fex]

Dillo Hills hasn't been fixed for the last two updates.

It was just fixed with the 1.0.7 update.

[newcollector]

Spell check is not an issue for me since I learned how to spell way back in elementary school. A native calendar is not an issue for me since I do not want to keep another calendar going. I prefer the Bridge approach, then I do not run the risk of forgetting to copy one calendar to another. My DM works everytime, no problems.

Have patience, grasshopper! You want major imporvements and enhancements NOW, but sometimes to do things right takes some time. It has been only 3 months, and the Playbook runs better and more apps are being added to the Playbook selection. RIM is listening, and things will get better before summer is over. I'd say we've had pretty significant improvement in just three months in bug fixes and especially in Bridge functionality. Granted it isn't what you are wanting yet, but...

All these little steps in upgrades that many are denigrating are preparation for some bigger improvements. RIM is laying a solid foundation so that future problems are minimized as full maturity comes. I understand your desire to have the Playbook at full maturity now, but quality takes a little time...and Rim is going to get it right.

[MPLexus301]

It was just fixed with the 1.0.7 update.

You're right! Tried it this morning and it was still choppy, but seems ok now. I have to take that part back

Spell check is not an issue for me since I learned how to spell way back in elementary school. A native calendar is not an issue for me since I do not want to keep another calendar going. I prefer the Bridge approach, then I do not run the risk of forgetting to copy one calendar to another. My DM works everytime, no problems.

The only thing I can really say to you is "Congratulations." I don't mean that sarcastically either, but regardless of my education and professional background, being able to press the space bar twice and get a period, or start a sentence with an automatic capitalization, or to turn "dont" into "don't" without having to purposefully add the apostrophe are nice touches, especially when you're pecking out emails and messages quickly or on the go. I'm not stupid...I just appreciate the convenience

I don't disagree with you about the calendar, but what about the other folks who don't have BB's and want a Playbook?

Have patience, grasshopper! You want major imporvements and enhancements NOW, but sometimes to do things right takes some time. It has been only 3 months, and the Playbook runs better and more apps are being added to the Playbook selection. RIM is listening, and things will get better before summer is over. I'd say we've had pretty significant improvement in just three months in bug fixes and especially in Bridge functionality.

I've had three months of patience and, quite frankly, I'm sick of being patient. As mentioned above, calendar, spell check and auto correct are hardly "major improvements" and are standard on just about every piece of technology available today. Why can't the cutting edge, portable, powerful BlackBerry PlayBoook simply match the Sony Ericcson phones that Metro PCS sells for $19.99?

All these little steps in upgrades that many are denigrating are preparation for some bigger improvements. I understand your desire to have the Playbook at full maturity, but quality takes a little time...and Rim is going to get it right.

The only bigger improvements that they've hinted at are apps sourced from Android, BBM and a calendar. IMO, with 90 days of lead time, these things should have all been done by now. I wasn't one of the people who bought a Playbook on April 19th and then logged into CB on the 20th and said, "WHERE ARE MY ANDROID APPS?! WHERE IS MY BBM?!" I understand that things take time, especially when done right, but three months down the road and look where we are...

[esqlaw]

What could RIM have added to make you not post this thread.

What do you know about the update? Do you know RIM's plan for updates? Do you have any personal knowledge to give your opinion any weight? Otherwise, you do come off like an impatient child in the backseat of your parent's car on a car trip.

You say you understand these things take time, but the truth is you have absolutely no idea how long it should take. You don't know anything about the process involved. So you have absolutely no basis to say android player, bbm, and calendar should be done now.

[sportline]

What could RIM have added to make you not post this thread.

What do you know about the update? Do you know RIM's plan for updates? Do you have any personal knowledge to give your opinion any weight? Otherwise, you do come off like an impatient child in the backseat of your parent's car on a car trip.

You say you understand these things take time, but the truth is you have absolutely no idea how long it should take. You don't know anything about the process involved. So you have absolutely no basis to say android player, bbm, and calendar should be done now.

no one knows what will happened, thats the problem. and the 60 days promised which is publicly known, and not fulfilled. well these pb buyers don't really understand that they are buying a beta hardware on a beta software field-testing , until lately.

[grujaz10]

Spell check is not an issue for me since I learned how to spell way back in elementary school.

Did you seriously just say this as an excuse/defense of the playbook?! You know how to spell and that is why it is okay and excusable for RIM, a company that prides itself on business productivity, ease of use, and practicality and efficiency in messaging, to neglect to add one of the most basic and necessary features in any modern multimedia device!!! Wow!

RIM...now you at least know that you have people who will support the most stupid and careless decisions you make.

I love the PB and my Bold 9700, but I will never make stupid and lazy excuses for lack of innovation. Do any of the blind RIM supporters ever stop and think of why they love RIM in the first place? You love RIM and their products because they were leaders in innovation and they created a product with little compromise. BBs were (and arguably still are) the best multimedia messaging/business devices. But again, they got there because of their uncompromising innovation. They seem to be slowly losing that touch riding on their own coat-tails of success -- there should be no excuses made.

I don't agree with all the ridiculous bashing of the PB, but let's not get stupid and start supporting things that are absolutely unsupportable. A lack of native email,calender, etc., a lack of spell-check and autocorrect, a lack of app support is not innovation, its stagnation.

[kbz1960]

RIM has to be clueless if they want the dang thing to sell first they have to make it a complete system and I'm not talking about native email, pim etc. I'm talking about being able to have a file manager, functioning tabs in the browser, spell checking (yes it is nice to have), whatever rim calls their short cut thing when typing and it adds the ' for you etc. Things every other computer, phone or tab can do without buying an app to do it.

They could have a fully functional email app on it that doesn't require FIPS or whatever the heck that is that I hear they are waiting for approval to release their native pim stuff. Not everyone (even blackberry owners) need our email to go thru their damn NOC.

Then they release updates that don't do crap or the update breaks something else that was working just like with bbos, they seem no more capable with QNX. Do they just have high school kids working on this stuff???

I like my phone but RIM is really starting to push me to something else. What that is I don't know yet.

[Darlaten]

Spell check is not an issue for me since I learned how to spell way back in elementary school.

Spellcheck, which in this day and age shouldn't even be considered a feature given that it is available in every single product on the market - including cheap toys for children - should have been there from the start. The fact that it is not is a testament to the concerns that many people have regarding RIM's ability to support a so-called "professional" tablet.

My DM works everytime, no problems.

The DM is not reliable in that there are still problems backing up the data whereby it stalls between 95-99% level. Numerous threads all over the internet have been posted regarding this issue since the Playbook was released. So we are three months into the lifecyle of the device and our ability to back up our content is sketchy at best.

Have patience, grasshopper! You want major imporvements and enhancements NOW, but sometimes to do things right takes some time.

I do agree with you that patience is necessary for some of the bigger enhancements and more mainstream apps. But from reading various forums, reviews and blogs, it is not these that are causing the consternation amongst the users; rather, it is the small ones with the actual OS that are driving people nuts.

RIM is listening

No they are not. If they were, they would have realized that there are other things that the community has been clamoring for.

Please point to me the hundreds of threads that were requesting "airplane mode" and I will gladly retract this statement. In the mean time, there are hundreds of threads on the net, including RIMS official forums, with people requesting an ability to adjust the standby timeout mode - still unanswered by RIM.

I agree with your post and I agree with the sentiments of the author of the first post in this thread. Patience is needed. But there comes a point when that runs out. And RIM needs to realize that and deliver meaningful updates.

[FMB8900]

funny thing is RIM will probably bring these features to the PB as soon as you drop it lol. stuff like that happens to me all the time. haha

[kb5zht]

What could RIM have added to make you not post this thread.

What do you know about the update? Do you know RIM's plan for updates? Do you have any personal knowledge to give your opinion any weight? Otherwise, you do come off like an impatient child in the backseat of your parent's car on a car trip.

You say you understand these things take time, but the truth is you have absolutely no idea how long it should take. You don't know anything about the process involved. So you have absolutely no basis to say android player, bbm, and calendar should be done now.

How about yourself? Do you know the things that the majority of the playbook community has been calling for after 3 months CANNOT be done? And furthermore, do you know for a fact that they couldnt have implemented the basic changes that should have been available upon release with the time and resources that instead went to implement things nobody asked for?

What do you have against consumers that want the product they were sold, not a 7" pretty piece of metal and plastic with "coming a long time from now" stamped across it?

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[MPLexus301]

^Well said. All I'm asking for is what RIM originally promised us. They said we'd have to wait...but I've been waiting...for three months, and there is no end in sight.

[jwn66]

And he didn't even mention e-mail. lul

I'm even starting to get annoyed as well. I just know this thing can be great, but wtf is going on over there. Come on....

[MADBRADNYC]

What do you know about the update? Do you know RIM's plan for updates? Do you have any personal knowledge to give your opinion any weight?

1) We know that the update was pulled.
2) We know that any/all updates are always.... "Coming Soon!"
3) Personal knowledge tells me they cannot get the smallest thing correct "at this point in time".

Hoping for the brighter future!
Patience is a "required .COD" for RIM these days.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[tboyd1120]

I guess I just own the 2011 version of the Apple Newton, i.e. PLAYBOOK. If something doesn't change at RIM our PB's will be worthless and useless!

[dandbj13]

Have patience, grasshopper! You want major imporvements and enhancements NOW, but sometimes to do things right takes some time... I understand your desire to have the Playbook at full maturity now, but quality takes a little time...and Rim is going to get it right.

You say you understand these things take time, but the truth is you have absolutely no idea how long it should take. You don't know anything about the process involved. So you have absolutely no basis to say android player, bbm, and calendar should be done now.

There is much more I could have quoted, but this seems to embody the spirit of the PB apologist these days. It starts with a demand for patience. A person is made to seem foolish or childish for expecting a complete and polished product. How unreasonable. Any attempt to hold RIM accountable with regard to timetables is mutinous. Finally, the person is made to feel guilty for daring to imply that RIM could do any better that what they are doing.

Well, I can confidently assert that I DO know when one should expect the product to be complete and polished. They should expect it at the time the product goes on sale and the company declares that "Amateur hour is over!" They should expect it the moment they put down $500 for the world's first professional tablet.

[kb5zht]

There is much more I could have quoted, but this seems to embody the spirit of the PB apologist these days. It starts with a demand for patience. A person is made to seem foolish or childish for expecting a complete and polished product. How unreasonable. Any attempt to hold RIM accountable with regard to timetables is mutinous. Finally, the person is made to feel guilty for daring to imply that RIM could do any better that what they are doing.

Well, I can confidently assert that I DO know when one should expect the product to be complete and polished. They should expect it at the time the product goes on sale and the company declares that "Amateur hour is over!" They should expect it the moment they put down $500 for the world's first professional tablet.

that's it, that's it, that's it!!!

Hey, plain and simple, this is it...

This is a race. What else is competition? Striving to beat your opponents. Okay, once a racer pulls ahead,.does he stop in place the way rim has and say "i know what im doing, i dont need to be any better, shut up!"?

No, because standing right where the racer is at, all the competing racers pass him up. And gladly.

So that is why you have a coach/trainer pushing his athlete, to be faster, better... always push him or her. Train hard, because the other racers are. The other coaches are gearing up their contenders to fight to be number one.

Do you ever hear a coach say "stop trying now, that is good enough. Dont listen to the cheering fans, you are fine running that speed. Quit working on your physical shape, speed and endurance. The fans that are screaming are just whiners."

You dont hear "shoot for mediocre!" because the racer will lose.

So, fanbois, on april 19th the starting gun was fired and rim leaped from the starting line, pulled ahead...... and then slowed down to a trot and you fools are saying "shut up, he is doing fine, he knows how to race, dont worry that he has fallen to 3rd.or fourth. Why, his best running is coming soon.

No, that is a perfect analogy, i know what you apologists are about to reply. Here we are screaming for rim to run to its full potential and make its fans proud instead of embarass them, and you guys are encouraging mediocrity and hence rim losing...

....like another employee today.

Yes you are. That is exactly what you are doing.



Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[Amy wineBerry]

Well, OP, I believe you've hit the nail on the head. I've only had my playbook for almost three weeks. I got it in anticipation that things were ready to improve. I waited since release and broke down and bought it, thinking everything else was right there. I guess I still have a couple more months in me to wait, since those who bought it on release have been waiting 90 odd days. But, damnit, something has to give. I love my playbook, but I shouldn't feel the need to force myself to believe that love is warranted...

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[StikiGreenZ]

RIM is listening, and things will get better before summer is over. I.

Listening eh? Where was I when there was a huge request for a useless feature like pinch zoom on a video, yet we dont even have auto-correct on this thing? My wife's old iPhone 3 even had it and it came out what... 5 years ago?

Up until recently, Ive been a huge supporter/defender of RIM but there comes a time when one must realize they dont deserve to be defended. For those of you that say things take tkme, are you developers or software engineers? Im in IT, and let me tell you, if I had RIM's money, I could have put together a team to release a lot of the desired updates in the past 3months.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[mandony]

APP development is a problem for the app developers NOT RIM.
If your favorite app is available on another platform then contact THAT developer.

RIM gave what it promised: WIFI Internet, Bridge functions including email, and more AND MORE ....

If the PB does not serve YOUR purposes, then, there are options to sell on CB marketplace, craigs, ebay ...
then buy what YOU think is something that serves YOUR needs.

[esqlaw]

There is much more I could have quoted, but this seems to embody the spirit of the PB apologist these days. It starts with a demand for patience. A person is made to seem foolish or childish for expecting a complete and polished product. How unreasonable. Any attempt to hold RIM accountable with regard to timetables is mutinous. Finally, the person is made to feel guilty for daring to imply that RIM could do any better that what they are doing.

Well, I can confidently assert that I DO know when one should expect the product to be complete and polished. They should expect it at the time the product goes on sale and the company declares that "Amateur hour is over!" They should expect it the moment they put down $500 for the world's first professional tablet.

You'd be totally right about me but I personally don't care about RIM. I'd like to use stronger language like don't give a ><><><. All those slogans like "amateur hour is over!", "professional grade tablet" and the sort... did that actually make you buy the product?

As far as consumer expectations, regarding what you quoted me on and your second paragraph, any single person's definition of complete and polished is going to differ too much to adequately define whether its complete or polished. In my opinion it is complete as it functions. What I care about, and think what really matters, is whether the product performs for me as I desire it to. It does. If it doesn't for you, that is a shame. However, no need for every upset person to post literally the same thing. In another 10 days we're gonna see - 100 days past and no native email. Then we can continue to rehash the same discussion over and over again. Don't be surprised when people respond the same.

Lots of people want to see RIM surpass Apple, even the haters it seems.

[dandbj13]

As far as consumer expectations, regarding what you quoted me on and your second paragraph, any single person's definition of complete and polished is going to differ too much to adequately define whether its complete or polished.

I think you are being intellectually dishonest with yourself if you believe that there is no difference in a product that is in a near beta state but with a few good features, (PB), and a product that is complete and polished but with a few minor bugs, (iPad). You may have convinced yourself that there is no difference, but reviewers and consumers alike seem to know better.

Lots of people want to see RIM surpass Apple, even the haters it seems.

Unfortunately for RIM, those people cannot be found at the check-out counters with products by RIM in the basket. Those people seem to be expressing their desire to see RIM outdo Apple by talking to friends on their iPhone, or sending emails or Facebook posts on their iPads.